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Levothyroxine, a drug used to treat hypothyroidism, can lead to reduced bone mass and density in older adults with normal thyroid levels, a small cohort study has shown.
The secular trends of hypothyroidism reveal how the disease has changed over the course of time given changes in technology and treatment options. Even though ultrasound technology and treatment options have improved, the incidence of hypothyroidism has increased according to data focused on the US and Europe.
The majority of cases occur in women over 60 years of age, although it may happen in all age groups. [19] Most hypothyroidism is primary in nature. Central/secondary hypothyroidism affects 1:20,000 to 1:80,000 of the population or about one out of every thousand people with hypothyroidism. [10]
Thyroiditis is generally caused by an immune system attack on the thyroid, resulting in inflammation and damage to the thyroid cells. This disease is often considered a malfunction of the immune system and can be associated with IgG4-related systemic disease, in which symptoms of autoimmune pancreatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis and noninfectious aortitis also occur.
Certain medications can have the unintended side effect of affecting thyroid function. While some medications can lead to significant hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and those at risk will need to be carefully monitored, some medications may affect thyroid hormone lab tests without causing any symptoms or clinical changes, and may not require treatment.
In Graves' disease, treatment with antithyroid medications must be given for six months to two years, in order to be effective. Even then, upon cessation of the drugs, the hyperthyroid state may recur. Side effects of the antithyroid medications include a potentially fatal reduction in the level of white blood cells.
Levothyroxine is typically used to treat hypothyroidism, [12] and is the treatment of choice for people with hypothyroidism [13] who often require lifelong thyroid hormone therapy. [ 14 ] It may also be used to treat goiter via its ability to lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is considered goiter-inducing.
One way to identify Ord's Thyroiditis is by checking for an atrophied thyroid gland as this is the main symptom of the diseases. Checking for functional hypothyroidism can help identify if atrophic thyroiditis is present as functional hypothyroidism is associated with and can be caused by Ord's Thyroiditis. [4]